THE SCIENCE OF CASTING A TROUT FLY 151 



CASTING WITH THE SINGLE-HANDED ROD 



When learning to cast a fly it is advisable to do so over 

 grass and not over water, because, when casting on a lawn 

 no difficulties other than those of acquiring a correct habit 

 in casting will be encountered. The line, when projected 

 forward, will lie on the grass, and no matter how long it be 

 left there, it will not alter its position, or become any more 

 difficult to manipulate by the delay, and the attention can 

 thus be given solely to the thoughts which must accompany 

 fly casting. 



If the initial attempts to cast a fly are made over water 

 the difficulties will be increased by the fact that the line and 

 fly will sink below the surface whenever a pause is made 

 after making the forward cast, and the attention is thus 

 detracted by having to reel up the line, or otherwise to get 

 it above the surface, and to again extend it prior to the 

 backward cast. 



In the preliminary practice any old rod, reel and line can 

 be used, provided that the rod is not too heavy, and that 

 the line be tapered and suitable to the rod. The student 

 should not purchase a rod until he has acquired the art of 

 extending a straight and accurate line. When he is able 

 to do this, he will then be better able to select a rod to suit 

 his strength and his requirements. 



I am going to assume that the reader knows how to put 

 a rod together, to place the reel on the rod, and thread the 

 line ; but just here a word as to the reel and I am now 

 speaking to the right-handed fisherman. Always use your 

 left hand for manipulating the reel that is, have the reel 

 fixed on the rod so that its handle is pointing towards the 

 left hand when the rod is being used. It is quite a simple 

 matter to learn to use the reel with the left hand, and it is 

 of infinite advantage to the fisherman. The rod can thus 

 be always retained in the right hand after striking a fish, 



